Journal
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PROTISTOLOGY
Volume 45, Issue 3, Pages 183-192Publisher
ELSEVIER GMBH
DOI: 10.1016/j.ejop.2008.11.001
Keywords
Corythionella; Multivariate analysis; Numerical taxonomy; Sand dwelling; Testate amoebae
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The testate amoebid genus Corythionella inhabits beach sands and includes three marine and two freshwater species of the acolla-complex, all characterized by a poorly developed flared collar surrounding the pseudostomal aperture. Multivariate statistical methods (cluster analysis, principal coordinates analysis, non-metric multidimensional scaling ordination and discriminant analyses) were applied to morphologic characters of the test (shell) of the members of this complex in order to visualize and assess the degree of similarity among them. Graphical displays of the results of these analyses clearly revealed distinct separations between all pairs of species, including a sixth previously un-named taxon described here as a new species (Corythionella darwini n. sp.). Discriminant functions were developed to assist in identification of Corythionella with reduced oral collars. C. darwini was discovered in Pacific Ocean beach sand samples from western Canada and is characterized by a test with a median length, width, height and pseudostome width of 53, 20, 19 and 12 mu m, respectively. It presents the least variability in test morphology of all known species in the acolla-complex (coefficients of variation ranging between 3 and 5.6% for the four test variables) and is further distinguished from the other members of the complex by its distinctive near-cylindrical shape. (C) 2009 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.
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